With Love, Hayley

So the girl from Paramore, Hayley Williams, my girl, wrote this on her blog recently and I can't help but reblog it ;)

the last 4 years are gonna play like a movie in my head for the rest of my life. it was the best time from start to finish. everything that has to do with the self-titled album is my favorite memory. even the stuff that wasn’t so easy to go through. cause now i look back and i see why it all happened in the order that it did. we will never make another album like that one. that’s something i’ll always be proud about, and a little sad about, and that’s just the truth.

but what do i know? the next album might be even better than S/T. i should know better by now than to ever question the process, the plan, or the deep belief that i have in paramore… more so than i even have in myself, alone.

every night on Writing The Future, while we were on stage, there was always a moment of realization that we can never relive anything. not any single thing. it’s cruel. seriously, we are a generation who lives almost exclusively through our photos and videos and captions, trying to freeze moments in time but it’s all only a shade of us and our experience. what’s real is what those moment create within us… and that’s what we carry with us and that’s what shapes the moments to come. or at least how we perceive them, feel them, live them. memories do serve us when we are the most nostalgic and i suppose i’m always the most nostalgic… but even my memories of the last 4 years won’t fill me the way actually living it all did.

and that’s got to be why it’s so important to move forward and never live in the past. we can never be fulfilled by a moment that’s gone. if we’re not living in the now (wayne’s world ref) and struggling, striving to find ourselves and each other here in the present then what even is our point? yeah, i know the whole “be present/be content with where you are” spiel sounds like bullshit but it’s true… and no one needs to hear it more than me. con-stant-ly.

speaking of the present: i’ve been wedding planning, attempting to write and sometimes actually writing, moving into a new place, and building a hair-dye company from the ground up. all at the same time. yes, i am completely insane! you should see my crazy eyes. i think they’re permanent now actually.. i’m going to try my best to share bits and pieces of some of all of it as we go along but no promises cause some days i forget the internet exists (and i think that’s a good thing).

last thing:

thank you again for Writing The Future. never cried on stage the way i did during “Future” in Portland. the signs you guys made and held up for all the shows were moving and served as a reminder of our purpose and the hope we had for the band in the beginning. thank you guys for creating a community within our “fanbase”. we do what we can to keep it feeling like a family because that’s truly what it feels like to us… but you guys are daily doing all the work to really make it real. nothing felt more right than celebrating S/T with you guys in those gorgeous theaters.

i’ve typed for long enough now. writing lyrics with carpal tunnel sounds great and all but i’d rather not.

h[III]

I love you, Hayley!

Always Betting on You

As you might already know, Paramore has released a Selt-Titled Deluxe album recently and I'm truly psyched about it! I dropped by at Hayley's blog just now and read one of her entries. Well, as a fan, I sort of cried reading it..I don't know, it's like she wrote me a letter. Hahah. Here it is:

Hiiiiii….

Embarrassingly, it’s been a little while since the last time I did any sort of bloggin’ whatsoever. Now, I find myself near the very end of a long year having said nearly nothing about it! What a year it’s been for Paramore. Taylor and Jeremy and I are so thankful, so exhausted, and so satisfied. Thinking back on everything from The Self Titled Tour in OZ to launching “Ain’t It Fun” on one of the biggest pop stations in the country, to Parahoy and Monumentour… I just don’t know that there’s been another year in our career that has felt both this sentimental (like show #2 on the cruise) AND this triumphant (like having our first top 10 single at top 40 radio) all at the same time. It just keeps getting better, you guys.

2014 really changed me in a lot of ways. I guess it’s one reason I kept away from blogging and sharing as much as I usually feel inclined to. I grew up a lot and the process wasn’t really expected, nor was it always fun. Since the top of the year, I’ve gone through a “break-up”, a “make-up” (YAYWOOHOOO!), had a really promising hair-dye business opportunity completely fall through, got sick a TON of times on Monumentour and had to cancel shows, and just got plain tired. Well, we all did! Oh, I also got a dog (YAYWOOHOO!). The reason I’m saying all this is to show you that even when things look simple or wonderful on the surface, there’s always a battle to be fought. Don’t let it stop you from getting where you want to be. It’s not about where you think you should be, or even where you think you deserve to be. Where do you want to be? 

I’m so eternally 100% absolutely ridiculously grateful for people like you who have given my life, as well as Jeremy’s and Taylor’s, a major purpose. We are constantly learning along with you. Existing along with you. Singing along with you. But more than that we are always FOR you. This is so cheesy, omg… but you can’t water down the truth and when you do, it loses all its power.

I hope that, at the end of this year, you realize how the hard times made you. I hope for you that you allowed those times to make you better. I would bet that you’re better. 

You already know about this but, to bid 2014 goodbye, we’re leaving you with a re-release of our Self-Titled album. The re-release includes tracks from our favorite show on Monumentour, which took place at Red Rocks in Colorado. We didn’t originally intend to ever do anything with the recordings. It wasn’t planned. We just loved the show so much and felt it embodied the rawness and the fun that we had with you over the summer. The songs we chose to include from that show are mostly ones that weren’t on The Final Riot (save for “LTFB”, which we just HAD to have since we played that and “Part ll” back to back!). These recordings are un-touched and though they’re not perfect, we are psyched that we caught it on a recording because it was so special for us.

The re-release also has ALL 3 B-sides! Maybe you’ve already heard “Escape Route” and “Native Tongue” but there is noooo way you’ve ever had the pleasure of “Tell Me It’s Okay”. It’s such a cool song. I’m so happy we finally found a home for it. For whatever reason, at the time, it just didn’t fit the album. We never even finished recording it! This is the scratch demo that we recorded all in one take while Ilan was tracking drums at Sunset Sound. I later added some harmonies, Taylor threw an extra guitar bit here and there, and that’s pretty much it! The lyrics were always important to me and very true to that particular time in our band’s life. Maybe I’m giving too much away here but… it IS okay to be happy NOW. 

Lastly, there’s the duet I did with Joy Williams (formerly of The Civil Wars) on “Hate To See Your Heart Break”. We recorded our vocals (to the original track) in Santa Monica, CA about a week after the Monumentour ended. Joy has been a friend and a mentor of mine since I was just 12 years old. I met her, by fate, about a month into moving to Franklin, TN. She was on her own musical journey and I was chomping at the bit to start my own… (little did I know I would meet the guys like 6 months later). Joy has been an incredible example of strength, perseverance, faith, and grace throughout all the years that I’ve known her. I always wanted to be able to sing like her and being able to duet with her actually felt like an amazing tribute to the inspiration she’s given me. Taylor and his family are also close with Joy and he is actually the one who brought up having her on the song. It’s the first time we’ve ever collaborated with anyone as a band and we’re all really really proud we were able to invite someone into Paramore’s world who completely understands multiple aspects of who we are. Whether you’re a Paramore fan, a Civil Wars fan, or you just like pretty songs… This one will satisfy, I swear! 

Alright, this is long. I’ve typed for DAYS. My fingers hurt. I’m a little rusty! I won’t take any more of your time, except for to say this: we love you and we can’t wait for what’s next.

Always always always betting on you, 

Hayley

*shedding tears*

Now I leave you with 2 of Paramore's songs from Self-Titled Deluxe.

Daydreaming All the Time

Well, most of you know how much I love Paramore, right? So imagine how crazy I become when a new music video by Paramore has released. Yesss!! They have released their new music video for my favorite song, DAYDREAMING. Let's watch:

Ain't it wonderful? The video is as beautiful as the song. That's why I love Paramore! They know exactly what their fans needed to listen and watch. At least for me. The video turns out better than what I expected. In case you're wondering what I've been dreaming of all day, all night, the video would tell you. 

I love all the shots; countryside scenery, a small town as trains pass through, and the band triumphantly rocking out onstage. It's about real life of someone who's counting down the days until they can get out on the road and see a different part of the world that they've been dreaming of themselves. I love it not only for the great work they've made, but also for the message they left. I may haven't experienced it yet, but I know that going to a concert is really expensive. You have to pay the ticket, flight, hotel room, train, cabs, etc. But in the end, it's all worth it. Not just seeing your favorite band, but it's sacrificing every single day by saving money and it's also a great experience with your friend by making a long trip and staying together. I think this video is a tribute to the fans. Thank you, Paramore. 

And for the record, I love how they got into an accidental detour to the band's dressing room, peeking through the door, Hayley saw them, smiled and waved. It's this part that I really really adore:

Ain't she pretty?! Oh I wish I was one of those girls. Someday. Someday I will be that girl who's marking the calendar, counting days, getting on flight, joining the crowd and screaming "Paramore!!".

It's my dream.

DAYDREAMING lyrics

Living in a city of sleepless people

Who all know the limits and won't go too far outside the lines

Cause they're' out of their minds.

I wanna get out and build my own home

On a street where reality is not much different from dreams I've had

A dream is all I have... 

Daydreaming, daydreaming all the time

Daydreaming, daydreaming into the night

And I'm alright

Creep past the hours like the shorter hand on the clock

Hanging on a wall of a schoolhouse somewhere

We wait for the bell

And we dream of somewhere else

Daydreaming, daydreaming all the time

Daydreaming, daydreaming into the night

And I'm alright

Not that I won't remember where I'm from

Just don't wanna be here no more

It's not enough

(We're only half alive)

I'm gonna go

(We're only half alive)

Where the rest of the dreamers go

Where the dreamers go

Daydreaming, daydreaming all the time

Daydreaming, daydreaming into the night

And I'm alright

Daydreaming, daydreaming all the time

Daydreamer, we used to be half alive

Now I'm alright

Still Into You - Acapella Cover

What pops into your mind when it comes to acapella? Glee's Warblers? Sam Tsui? Pitch Perfect? Of course, now give me a virtual high 5!

There's one more acapella piece you should never missed. It's an acapella cover of Paramore's Still Into You by Kay Kastum. My favorite song from my favorite band! Check this out:

It is so aca-awesome!

If you love this cover, please pretty please vote for him HERE. 

I would really appreciate it! You know how awesome you are. ^^

I love you!

Fast in My Car to Future

I've been smiling all the time since last Thursday. How couldn't I, when Ifo got me this:

Imagine my reaction. Man, it's an awesome feeling! Oh I'm really in love with this guy.

So, yeap, I'm loving this album. Paramore have grown plenty in their music and they never fail in creating monster choruses. I adore their ability to blend genres..with songs swirl with hints of R&B, country and hard rock. Here's a little review of the album tracks.

#1. Fast in My Car - this album starts with a rebellious anthem. "been through the ringer a couple times" Hayley opens, "I came out callous and cruel". The music fits the lyrics perfectly.

#2. Now - "if there's a future, we want it now". It recalls their Misery Business jam long ago, but's surely a progression on their rebel pop sound.

#3. Grow Up - this has more of a fun bounce to it than the anger like in 1st two songs. Still, some mild irritation presents.  "I'm not a little girl no more," she sings after drying her tears and realizing she's got to drop some old friends to progress as person.

#4. Daydreaming - this track's a sweet cut about building a world that matches the ones constructed in fantasies. It's not as whimsical as its subject matter, but solid nonetheless.

#5. Interlude: Moving On - this 90-second gem is a simple one, featuring acoustic strums on the guitar, while Hayley coolly kisses off an old flame. "I could be angry, but you're not worth a fight" she sings, "and besides I'm moving on".

#6. Ain't It Fun - "ain't it fun living in the real world". It asks sarcastically to a spoiled brat discovering that the world doesn't revolve around them. Some xylophone taps and choir-like bridge make it more than your average rock song.

#7. Part II - fyi, this song's the sequel to Let the Flames Begin from Riot album. "I will catch fire to let your glory and mercy shine". She's ready to sacrifice her happiness for others.

#8. Last Hope - "the salt in my wounds isn't burning any more than it used to". It's suggesting that the lack of new pain is encouraging enough to believe that brighter days are coming.

#9. Still Into You - my favorite track! This is love anthem, fit for couples that have been together for a good while through ups and downs.

#10. Anklebiters - while hip-hop community calling naysayers as haters, Paramore calls them anklebiters, folks who prey on other people's actions. "Someday you're going to be the only one that you've got," she sings to those that should rely on their own thoughts and not what anklebiters are saying.

#11. Interlude: Holiday - with an ukulele, it's a brief cut about maturing from a high school kid to an adult, then enjoying some time off. "I don't plan on coming back," she sings nonchalantly and smoothly.

#12. Proof - just as I'm nearly dozed off on previous cut, they kick back in with a rock song where she takes her man deep-sea diving, with only love acting as their safety gear.

#13. Hate to See Your Heart Break - this is one of the lone ballads in the album and almost feels like a country song. Hayley walks down memory lane and sings about how love can hurt all. "Love happens all the time, to people who aren't kind and heroes who are blind."

#14. (One of Those) Crazy Girls - here she plays the role of a girl that refuses to be broken up with, threatening to break into her ex's home so that she can "go through your closet so I can smell your skin". LOL.

#15. Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore - another ukulele ditty where Hayley wavers between being bitter and sweet.

#16. Be Alone - this is about how her and her other half should be alone, together, I guess. Because she sings "we could be alone and never get too lonely".

#17. Future - encouraging listeners to keep looking ahead and following their dreams. It's a proper end to the set, gentle and aggressive all at once.

After All this Time

"I always write from personal experience or things that I see. I don't ever try to write about things I don't know. If asked, I want to speak from a place of knowledge and experience. Or at the very least, I'm learning and I'm interested. This album really reflects where the guys and I have been lately. It's one of the happiest things we've ever been a part of. The sound is a lot more upbeat this time around. I don't think our fans have gotten to hear this side of us, where not everything is so heavy and so detrimental."

- Hayley Williams, 2013

That's what Hayley said during an exclusive interview by Glamour recently. I've loved Paramore since the beginning and they just keep getting better. From emo teen-punk, heavy rock, folky terrain, to now. I love that all of their albums are extremely strong for their own reasons. And I'm loving the more positive, upbeat tone of the new album. The music video of their new song, Still Into You, has been I released and I love it at every bit. Now I have something new to dance to. ^^

Yeah, the song and video are very different from their usual ones and I saw some negative comments about them. Some want the old Paramore, some say Hayley's becoming Katy Perry, some say they sound horrible, blah blah blah. Screw all those craps. That's the example of people who are afraid of changes, living in denial and stuck forever in the past. Move on, peeps! Paramore still rocks.

It's a beautiful song and the video's cute! I'm glad to finally see them being so happy and I think it's my favorite video they've ever done. As much as I love Hayley and I can't get enough of her hair, outfit, makeup and her adorable dance, but I wish the video showed more of Taylor and Jeremy, they crack me up. 

What Hayley said about her pop-culture obsessions:

"I am re-obsessed with the Spice Girls and their Spice World movie. I grew up on that, and I love that right now the '90s are an influence on young people. It seems like 6 years ago, a lot of us were looking back more into the '80s. But the Spice Girls mean so much to people my age and people younger than me. I love the sense of girl power they give to young women. You know, I didn't have that when I was 16 when Paramore started. I wish it was something that I more fully understood. So I'm loving that young women are embracing their femininity, their power, and their strength. I look at my younger sister, and she's so strong and self-aware. I just feel that it's so important, whether it's feminism or feeling powerful for just one day, I'm happy that's back in pop culture. I hope it stays. I'm happy to see strong women."

Oh this is why I love Hayley. ^^

Now, let's enjoy the song!

Still Into You

Can't count the years on one hand

that we've been together

I need the other one to hold you

Make you feel, make you feel better

It's not a walk in the park to love each other

But when our fingers interlock,

Can't deny, can't deny you're worth it

'Cause after all this time, I'm still into you

Chorus:

I should be over all the butterflies

But I'm into you (I'm into you)

And baby even on our worst nights

I'm into you (I'm into you)

Let 'em wonder how we got this far

'Cause I don't really need to wonder at all

Yeah after all this time I'm still into you

Recount the night that I first met your mother

And on the drive back to my house

I told you that, I told you that I loved ya

You felt the weight of the world fall off your shoulder

And to your favorite song

we sang along to the start of forever

And after all this time, I'm still into you

[Chorus]

Some things just, some things just make sense

and one of those is you and I (Hey)

Some things just, some things just make sense

and even after all this time (Hey)

I'm into you, baby not a day goes by

that I'm not into you

P.S: Sill Into You means a lot to me. I know Hayley won't read my blog, but I'd like to thank her for this song. ^_^

Rise from Ashes

Only a new track from Paramore could wake me from music blogging hibernation. For those who haven't knew, Paramore dropped a single recently, called "Now", from their upcoming self-titled album which is expected to be released on 9th April 2013. I'm thrilled!!

The song is different from their previous stuff, of course it is..they've grown and change, but I really love it. I'm totally hooked. It quickly settles into a distinct Paramore groove with massive guitars. The chorus explodes with energy and is a guaranteed sing-along. Hayley's vocals have improved a lot too and her voice is beautiful as ever. And she slightly sounds like Gwen Stefani in that song. Well, I've been following Hayley's updates via Twitter and Tumblr, and I saw how hard they've worked on this new album. The song Now shows that they've done a really great job. I feel like hugging Hayley right now. :p (jealousy strikes when I recall those Paramore's meeting-with-fans pictures while they're in KL last week, and I should be writing a post about the concert like Daniel C did, but sadly I wan't even there) 

I myself have memorized the lyrics since it's first released. So you can guess how many times I kept it on repeat for hours. I should have been at their concert and sing along with Hayley. Okay enough said. Overall, Now is a brilliant track and just the sort of thing to breathe life into this new incarnation of Paramore and I'm looking forward to listen to the whole album. Enjoy the song. ^^

"It just feels like the perfect way to start this new journey we are embarking on not only as a band but as a movement. To show people that you can lose battles but come back and win full on wars. You can rise from ashes. You can make something out of even less than nothing." - Hayley, Jeremy, Taylor

Now Paramore Now

"Get ready to riot as America’s beloved pop rock phenomenon, Paramore make their stellar return to Kuala Lumpur on 17 February 2013 at Stadium Negara. Fronted by the incomparable Hayley Williams, the band is geared up for their worldwide tour in conjunction with the release of their upcoming self-titled album due on 9 April 2013."

I. Am. So. Excited!!

So here's the ticket details,

and the venue layout.

Parawhores, what are you waiting for? Pick your zone and book a tix here! ^^

I'm so pumped up for this! It's been my dream to meet Paramore and be at their concert. I don't want to miss it again this time, but my heart breaks when I see the flight ticket price. Far out of my budget. T_T

I wish for miracles..like, lower price by Air Asia, or free tickets giveaway by Hitz FM, or Paramore decides to perform in KK. Heeeeee........

Oh by the way, their new single, 'Now', will be released on 22nd January 2013. Yay! ^^

Paramore Returns

I've been really stressed out lately due to the awful lots of assignments and presentations. Deadlines were close to each other. It drove me crazy.

I presented my thesis proposal last Friday and it's just okay. I mean, yeah it's the toughest 15-minute Q&A I've ever had, but at least the waiting's over. Then I spent my Sunday in library doing assignment which was due on the next day. You see, the problem was I always leave everything to the last minute and what did I get? A sick night. It wasn't easy but I managed to write 15 pages of Fermented Fruits in a night. It's not like writing on blog where you can pour out everything. I had to read 30 journals and more to make it complete. After submitted, I continued on other 2 assignments and at the same time, prepared for another presentation. 

I was fatigued. 

Now it's over and I just need to focus on final exam. But I still feel like throwing up when I see my books and journals. I feel like I can't take it anymore. I never thought that final year could be this hard. Whenever I felt like giving up, I got myself back fast because there's no point of giving up. 7 months to go. Be strong, Aemy. 

Oh by the way, I have something to announce. Well, maybe most of you may already know this, but I'm telling you anyway. Here we go,

PARAMORE IS COMING TO MALAYSIA ON 17TH FEBRUARY 2013!!!! 

They also play live in Manila before hitting Malaysia. Yay!!

See you guys in 2013! ^^

I am sooooo excited for this!! I really hope I could get the tickets and I don't want to miss it this time. I must go! Now I'm memorizing all lyrics so I can sing along with Hayley in the concert. I already dream of meeting her at the backstage. OMG!!!! I'm thrilled!! 

You can place your RSVP on their event page. More info here. ^^